If you’ve taken the deck off your Craftsman’s mower to service it, putting it back on is as easy as reversing the order in which you took it off. However, if it’s been a while since you removed it, you may not be sure exactly how it goes back together. Whether your mower is a zero-turn model or the standard garden tractor, most Craftsman tractors are designed so that the deck is slid under the tractor from the right side and doesn't require tools to install. Once you have the deck in position, you’ll probably see which rods need to be attached and where.

Starting Safe

Whether your Craftsman mower is a garden tractor type or zero-turn style, always start by parking the mower on a level surface, such as a paved driveway. Make sure the lever that engages the blades is in the off position, engage the parking brake, turn off the engine and remove the key. To keep the mower from moving while you’re working on it, place a block of wood behind a rear tire and another in front of the opposite front tire.

Positioning the Deck

When attaching your mower’s deck it’s important to position it under the tractor so that the connecting rods and arms can be readily attached to the tractor’s frame. No matter what model of Craftsman mower you have, the discharge shoot should be placed so that when you are sitting on the tractor’s seat the grass is thrown out the right side of the tractor.

Attaching Rods and Arms

Craftsman lawn tractors are usually equipped with two link rods on the front of the deck that attach to the tractor with retainer springs, more commonly called cotter pins. You’ll also need to connect two suspension arms, found near the rear of the deck, with cotter pins and re-attach the anti-sway bar on the rear of the deck with a cotter pin. For zero turn models, you’ll only need to attach one front and two rear hanging rods using the deck support pins attached to the frame of the tractor.

Installing the Belt

The final step in attaching a Craftsman mower deck is re-installing the mower deck belt. This belt attaches to the engine drive pulley and the pulleys on the deck. It’s purpose it to feed mechanical energy from the engine to the deck to turn the mower blades. You’ll find the deck belt goes on easier if you install it on the pulleys on the deck first, in the pattern indicated in your mower’s owner’s manual, then pull the belt toward the rear of the tractor and roll it onto the engine drive pulley. You may need to raise the mower deck, using the attachment lever, to be able to slide the belt onto the engine drive pulley.

About the Author

Diana K. Williams is a certified Master Gardener, has more than a decade of experience as an environmental scientist, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and environmental studies from the Ohio Northern University. Williams is a winner of Writer’s Digest Magazine's annual writing competition.